She thrust a hand into her pocket for a handkerchief, and rather violently blew her nose. “I shouldn’t have said anything!” she uttered, somewhat thickly.
“It’s of no consequence. I should have discovered it.”
She gave a final sniff, and restored the handkerchief to her pocket. “I’m sure I don’t know what possessed me, except for you being so big, sir!”
He could not help laughing. “Good God, what has that to say to anything?”
“You wouldn’t understand—not being a female,” she replied, sighing. “I’ll be going now, sir—and thank you!”
Chapter 5
AN hour later, Miss Stornaway’s shabby gig drew up at the toll-gate, and her henchman, jumping down, tendered three coins to John, with a broad wink, and demanded a ticket opening the only other gate that lay between Crowford and Tideswell. But John had already provided himself with this, and he waved away the coins, which made Nell exclaim against him for cheating the trustees.
“Nothing of the sort!” he replied, climbing into the gig. “I’m not one of those who are able—as the saying goes—to buy an Abbey, but I was born to a modest independence, and I would scorn to cheat the trustees!”
“But you should not be obliged to buy the ticket for my carriage!” she objected.
“Oh, there was no obligation! I hoped to impress you by making such a handsome gesture,” he said gravely.